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Sunday, 31 August 2008

I came to this country way back 2000 and I was the only one of the expat pioneers left in the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital. The original ROH expats were Danis and Teeny Onglatco, Rita Jane dela Cruz, Noli Frias and Sylvia Villanueva.

We organized a reunion for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd batch expats and that includes the one working in Kuwait and UAE. It was being held in Mayette's residence here in Northfield last 23rd of August. Sylvia, Danis, Teeny and kids and Rita Jane came over. I came late on that day because I was not feeling well when I came back from London.

Present were Zaldy, Cecille, Jessie and family and Hams and family and Eva. Madel, Mabel, Alice, Noli, Steve and Connie were not able to make it.

I just hope that there will be more like this in the future. Please click here for more events.

Thursday, 28 August 2008

Members of the Great Britain team arrived back in the United Kingdom from China on Monday following their best Olympic performance for 100 years.

British competitors won 19 golds in Beijing to finish fourth in the medal table with a haul of 47 medals.

The team landed at Heathrow Airport on a dedicated British Airways Boeing 747 featuring a special gold medal "nose".

The biggest cheer was saved for the first sight of all the gold medallists led by Becky Adlington and Chris Hoy.While the majority of athletes were reunited with their families at a hotel, some of the British stars attended a news conference.Britain had heroes of its own, led by the brutality of Chris Hoy and his relentless, robotic velodrome victories

Team GB chief Simon Clegg said: "It's been a long campaign and the whole team are really pleased to be back home and very proud with what has been achieved.

"It's really difficult to gauge the mood of the public, but no one expected the level of this reception here."

Hoy, triple gold-medallist in the velodrome, said: "It's quite overwhelming. It's an incredible reception. You're living in a bubble in the Olympic village and it's only when you land and see quite how many people have turned up you realise - it's incredible."It's been a long pressure build-up and it's going to be nice to switch off and see friends and family and do normal things again."

The 32-year-old Scot, however, laughed off suggestions that he may now receive a knighthood.

"I think that's ridiculous to be honest, it seems crazy."

The Princess Royal was one of the first to step off the plane, followed by Sebastian Coe. The London 2012 chairman, who now leads the drive to the Olympics in four years, said: "Those guys just performed way beyond what we expected."

Adlington, gold medallist in the 400m and 800m freestyle and Britain's first female Olympic swimming champion in 48 years, revealed she will now relax with her family and boyfriend and return to the pool at the end of September.GB's gold medallists get a noisy reception at Heathrow Airport

"I'm having a month off and then getting back in the water," the 19-year-old from Mansfield said. "I just can't wait to get home and see my family."

Her victory will also be toasted in the Adlington Arms, after it was announced the local Yates's pub would change its name in her honour.

Kelly Sotherton, who missed out on a medal in the heptathlon, said: "My London training cycle started the day I left the track. As soon as I won my medal in Athens I was preparing for Beijing and London is only four years away.

"We had a great Olympics, but I'm sure we'll move on and be more successful in 2012."

The plane, renamed Pride after the British Olympic lion mascot, had the message "Proud to bring our British heroes home" emblazoned on the fuselage.

And there was some extra weight on the inbound flight too - 44lb of additional metal, in the form of Olympic medals.

Extra champagne was ordered for the flight and the airline gave the medallists special upgrades, although it was reported that many athletes requested apple juice.

Unloading their baggage was a job in itself - there were 700 pieces of equipment on board, including 80 bikes, six javelins, and four canoes.

Captain Alasdair MacFadyen said: "We've all been following Team GB whilst they've been in Beijing.

"They've done the UK proud and we're so pleased to be delivering them back to home soil to the heroes' welcome they've earned."

Organisers had warned fans to stay away from the airport and said the public could mark the homecoming at a victory parade in London on 16 October.

A reception at Downing Street is also likely to be arranged.Prime Minister Brown has already stated the honours system will recognise the team's achievements.

The British Olympic Association had targeted an eighth-place finish in the table.

But despite some below-par displays in athletics and equestrian events, excellent performances from the swimmers, rowers, sailors, boxers and canoeists helped Team GB finish above the likes of Australia and Germany.

The cyclists won a total of 14 medals, including eight golds, with Hoy's efforts making him the first Briton in 100 years to win three golds at the same Games.

Injured BMX rider Shanaze Reade struggles from the planeThe rowers picked up two golds, two silvers and two bronzes for their best Olympics since 1908 while Britain's sailors will have a hard act to follow in 2012 in Weymouth.

They won four golds, including a third for Ben Ainslie, who was elevated to the same status as record-breaking swimmer Michael Phelps and sprinter Usain Bolt by Olympics chief Jacques Rogge.

Britain's boxers also did well, with James DeGale adding gold to bronzes for David Price and Tony Jeffries, while Tim Brabants picked up the country's first ever canoeing gold.

Despite a magnificent 400m gold for Christine Ohuruogu, the athletics team disappointed overall, falling one short of their target of five medals.

"It has been frustrating - we almost hit the target, but you don't get medals for close," said UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already said the British government will be investing heavily in the country's sporting talent in the build-up to 2012.

"As we move up to it we want more and more young people in Britain interested in sport," he said.

"That is why we will be investing more in sport in our schools, as well as for our elite athletes."

Thursday, 21 August 2008

The world's longest-reigning monarch is a landowner whose holdings include 3,493 acres of Bangkok. He also owns stakes in the publicly listed Siam Cement and Siam Commercial Bank.================================

2. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates

Age: 60

Net worth: £12.35 billion

The United Arab Emirates are home to one-tenth of the world's oil reserves. The Sheikh has splashed out more than $1 billion (£534 million) on branding Abu Dhabi as a cultural centre, including $200 million (£107 million) on a Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum.==============================

3. King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia

Age: 84

Net worth: £11.27 billion

Saudi Arabia currently earns around $1 billion per day from oil exports. King Abdullah ascended to the throne in 2005 and a $26 billion (£13.9 billion) city is being built in his honour, which the government hopes will become the new economic centre of the Middle East.=========================

4. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei

Age: 62

Net worth: £10.74 billion

The sultan's wealth is based on oil and gas reserves, although Brunei's oil fields are reportedly set to dry up in 10 years. He is currently engaged in a $3 billion (£1.6 billion) legal battle with his brother Prince Jefri, who lives in exile in London.===========================

5. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai

Age: 58

Net worth: £9.66 billion

Sheikh Mohammed is a majority shareholder in Dubai Holding, a conglomerate with stakes in HSBC and Sony, as well as real estate holdings. One of the leading figures in the horse racing world, he owns a 3,800-acre stud farm in Kentucky. He was once linked to a takeover bid for Liverpool Football Club.=============================

6. Prince Hans-Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein of Liechtenstein

Age: 63

Net worth: £2.68 billion

The family's most valuable asset is the bank, LGT. The prince's holdings include an estimated 20,000 hectares of land in Austria, several 17th century palaces in Vienna, a valuable art collection and GM producer RiceTec.===========================

7. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar

Age: 56

Net worth: £1.07 billion

A graduate of Sandhurst, Sheikh Hamad succeeded his father in 1995 and spearheaded the development of Watar's vast oil and natural gas reserves. According to Forbes, Qatar has the highest per-capita income in the world.============================

8. King Mohammed VI of Morocco

Age: 46

Net worth: £805.4 million

King Mohammed's wealth derives from phosphate mining, agriculture and a stake in Morocco's largest public company, ONA.============================

9. Prince Albert II of Monaco

Age: 50

Net worth: £751.7 million

Albert inherited a fortune which includes property, art, antique cars and a stake in Monte Carlo's casino. Still regarded as one of the world's most eligible bachelors, he regards himself as an environmentalist and drives a hybrid car.==========================

10. Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman

Age: 67

Net worth: £590.1 million

He assumed the throne in 1970 after overthrowing his father, who had kept him under house arrest for six years. The sultan's fortune derives from oil. He is currently investing in Oman's tourism industry.==========================

11. Prince Karim Al Hussein

Age: 71

Net worth: £536.9 million

The Aga Khan is independently wealthy but part of his fortune derives from voluntary tithes paid annually by the 15 million Ismaili Muslims for whom he is spiritual leader. He invests this money in Third World projects through the Aga Khan Development Network.==========================

12. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain

Age: 82

Net worth: £349 million

Her Majesty's personal fortune is based on investments, art and property including Balmoral and Sandringham. Estimates of her wealth often mistakenly include the Royal Palaces and the Crown Jewels, but these are 'inalienable' items held by the Sovereign.==========================

13. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait

Age: 79

Net worth: £268 million

The Sheikh's wealth is based on a stipend, unlike royals in many other Gulf states.========================

14. Queen Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands

Age: 70

Net worth: £161 million

The Dutch royal family's property holdings include Castle Drakensteyn and tracts of land in Tavernelle. Their fortune has been hit by a declining Dutch equities market.==========================

15. King Mswati III of Swaziland

Age: 40

Net worth: £107.4 million

Sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch spent a reported $2.5 million (£1.34 million) on joint celebrations for 40 years of his country's independence and his 40th birthday. His wealth is based on investments and land.

Thursday, 14 August 2008

Joro's first year anniversay had already passed with a smile because finally, it was our big day and it earmarked our stronger relationship. As it was impossible to be together in person, we met as usual via chat.

Jojo went to Dipolog as he was in Mapang to commemorate our barrio fiesta last August 10. He was in our house for 10 days. He was invited by Mama and being considered as one of our family.

During our chat, I was so happy since I had seen Joro. He was smiling and looked happy upon seeing me on screen. He was being greeted by his loving big family like his mother, Bacon, his brod, Cheese and his relatives like Sweetie, Cutie, Brownie, Brum and Panda.

Back here, I celebrated with my big family and we had a family picture together. I bought a cake and a bottle of wine. That was a simple celebration but a unique one.

Saturday, 9 August 2008

August 9, 2008 is JORO's first year anniversary. After my break up with Nonoy, I easily move on to the new life and love with Jojo. The distance keep us apart but not our love. It seems that we are near to each other because of the new technology now, chat. I can see him everyday, twice a day to be exact.

As JORO is getting it's first anniversary, we keep our promises and to maintain our harmonious relationship without constraints and hindrances. Jojo is such a wonderful person and God's gift to me.

Monday, 4 August 2008

Juday and Ruffa Mae Quinto wooing the crowd with their song rendetion in Lampton Park, Hounslow. London last June 9, 2008. Rel to real sweethearts, Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos in their romantic duet.

I attended the Baryo Pista sa London 2008 last weekend, June 7 and 8. I went to London by Chiltern Railways by 12 noon after my carboot sale browse. I arrived Marylebone Station in London at about 2pm, then I purchased an all day ticket and went by underground train to Morden Park in Morden last June 7 and I met Steve, my everdearest friend there. I also met Haze, Simon and their 2 kids. There were lot of Filipinos there witnessing the culminating event of early summer. The weather was glorious, very sunny and clear skies.

But unfortunately, there was no live performance from Ai Ai delas Alas, Mark Bautista and Chokoleit because they were due to perform the following day. After going all the stalls selling mostly Pinoy foods and delicacies, we went to central London through underground train again.

We stopped in London Bridge station and had a stroll on the River of Thames riverbank passing through the famous London bridge, HMS Belfast, London City Hall and the famous Tower Bridge. I knew Steve was tired and bored but I had to convince him to walk further because he was my photographer.

We went home at about 730pm to his flat in Tooting Broadway and had our dinner together. Afterwards, we had a drink and I started narrating my story to him regarding Nonoy and Jojo. I kept on criticizing his room because it is so dirty and fall of dust and lastly, no entertainment like TV or computer. We went to sleep at about 12 midnight.

The following day, after our breakfast and shower, we went to Canary Wharf because I never been there before. Canary Wharf is the business part of London, tall edifices and modern skycrapers. We had our lunch there in Burger King.

Then, we went to Hounslow near Heathrow Airport for the other venue of the baryo pista. It was really frustrating since they hold the events simultaneously, so I was able to attend the baryo pista in Morden. The program was still not started. We sat on the ground waiting for Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo and Ruffa Mae Quinto to come.

The weather was really good, very warm and striking sunny hot. We all gathered infront of the stage waiting for them. But there was a long delay and I nearly passed out because it was so hot. The audience sat infront of the stage but I remained standing. After 2 hours of long waiting and standing, they finally rendered their performances.

It started with Ruffa Mae Quinto. She is so pretty and white complexion with a big boobs. Her performance was hilarious and entertaining. Second to perform was my idol, Judy Ann Santos or Juday. Then, her real life boyfriend came to stage, Ryan Agoncillo. I really thought that Ryan is a tall man but he is short only and so to Juday.

I really enjoyed their performances even if it only lasted for 45 minutes but as what I said, we all delighted upong seeing them. After the show, I followed them backstage, taking photos. So many people there waiting to have a glimpse of their idol.

I went home after the show, leaving Steve in Piccadilly Circus station and proceeded to Marylebone station. I missed the train in going to Birmingham and I was able to catch the next train at about 810pm and arrived in Birmingham by 1020pm. Unfortunately, I ran out of coins for my bus fare. So, I walked down looking for convenience stores or food stalls that were open so that I could have a change. Good that there was a cookie store still open and I managed to get a loose change.

As I arrived h0me, I felt so tired and exhausted. Jojo was not online as he went home to Valencia. I really enjoyed my stay in London and I finally met my idol, Juday in person.